Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu termed the allegations made by BRS leader T. Harish Rao regarding an alleged ₹5 lakh-crore scam as “completely baseless and devoid of evidence.”
In statement, the Minister said the repeated accusations by BRS leaders amounts to a “deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” and challenged them to present proof if they wished to substantiate their claims.
“Otherwise, they must acknowledge that these allegations are politically motivated and offer an apology to the people of Telangana,” he said.
Mr. Sridhar Babu said that instead of reiterating what he described as an “old and unfounded narrative,” the BRS leadership must first explain the rationale behind the freehold G.Os (19, 20, 21) issued by the previous government in August 2023, and the “significant financial implications running into several lakh crore rupees” associated with them.
The Minister said that while the present government is working transparently to mobilise ₹4,000 crore to ₹5,000 crore of legitimate revenue for the State, those “accustomed to opaque practices” are finding it difficult to accept this approach.
He questioned the decision of the former government to grant freehold rights over leased lands just four months before the Assembly elections, imposing 100% to 200% charges, and asked the BRS leadership to clarify the projected revenue implications of this move.
Countering the claim that the present government had placed 9,292 acres of land for sale, he clarified that of the total land in industrial parks, only 4,740 acres, all belonging to private individuals, were plotted for industrial allocation. The remaining land, he said, was used for essential public infrastructure.
He further questioned why attempts were being made to “discourage investments and thereby restrict employment opportunities for the State’s youth.”
Published – November 22, 2025 07:35 pm IST
